The evening world., 1887-10-26

branch of the Children's Aid Society. 1t has
been in existence twenty-five years, first at
Canal street, then at Blocker street and
lastly at st. Marks place.
1t is strictly undenominational. The Rev.
MI. Boone, o Congregational minister,
preaching to the children Sunday mornings
in Winter.
Mrs. Hurley, matron of the Home for the
past hfteen years, showed an EVENING WoRLD
reporter over the house. Amy girl who comes
received" she said. =" Occupation may be
found for her the next day. Those who
board in the house, which will accommodate
ffty-two, pay $3.50 a week If they nave stu
atoms which conveniently enable them to do
50; otherwise, they pay nothing. The work
they do in the house is all the compensation
given. Two or three times only in my term
of office girls have come with the intention of
inveigling away the other girls. They were
promptly detected INT sent away. Only the
cook and the housekeeper are regularly hired
servants"
The sewing-machine girls do not live in
the house, but come one hour or two hours O
day to learn the use of the machine. Girls
received. The average learn in two weeks,
although some bright ones master 1t in O few
days. They then get work at from 90 to So
q week.
The ground floor is a suite of two rooms
and an ~alcoye. Twenty-six sewing machines
of four varieties fill the second of these.
Two Irish girls, sisters, were in the alcove
hemming. The reporter, although not an
adept at hemming, thought the work fair. A
Chinawoman is an old standby Of the place.
Miss Beeching has charge of the sewing
machine department. The girls bring their
own work.
Mrs. Hurley then took the reporter to the
second-story, the d~ressmakers' department.
It takes girls six months. to learn here, and
then they go to dressmakers as " improvers."
That means they can still learn something in
the mysteries OF the art. A dozen girls were
sitting around doing different parts of
dresses, and two or three handsome gowns
hung over chairs. Mrs. McAlpine teaches
the girls. The dressmakers stay in the
house, but are given only their board,
The laundry department is thoroughly
equipped. 1t takes o year to be graduated as
q laundress. The girls there look on them
Half-a-dozen girls were rubbing wet clothes
up and down a zinc board. A mound Of
light snowy foam rose from each tub. The
girls were pretty, healthy and gay,
In the ironing-room Mrs. Hurley, asked
an ample blonde and the boss polisher. She
is q fairy-like thing of 900 pounds weight,
and when she poises her avoirdupois on q
small ~fat-iron and RUM it over q shirt collar,
that collar must shine or be ground out of
existence, The ~drying-room is as hot as q
vapor-bath.
Good discipline is maintained in the house.
The children are not allowed out at night,
and boarders who pay are allowed out during
the day, while those supported by the house
are let out on Sundays,
For breakfast the menu is tea, bread and
butter, and porridge. The porridge is docked
for the supper. The dinner on Sunday is
roast meat; Monday, meat stew; Tuesday,
liver and bacon C'They take that" said Mrs.
Hurley); Wednesday, pork and beans (''They
take that, too"); Thursday, meat stew; Fri
day, fish; Saturday. meat SOUP Sometimes
patrons send in apple sauce and little dain.
ties. So here is an opportunity for benef-